❓ A parliamentary question regarding police raids on the Sunday Times newspaper, focusing on accountability, transparency, and the Commissioner's awareness. The Minister acknowledges Parliament's authority but cites ongoing investigation and lack of document possession as reasons for not providing requested documents.
AnsweredQoN 406Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SUNDAY TIMES POLICE RAID
I refer the minister to the 30 April 2008 police raid on the Sunday Times offices, and a raid conducted earlier in the month in response to the published story about hospital computers. (1) Does the minister recognise Parliament’s authority to hold governments and public officials accountable for their actions? (2) If so, why is the minister impeding Parliament in its accountability role by refusing to table, as requested, copies of documents presented by the police in support of requests for the search warrants for each of the two raids? (3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD
I refer the minister to the 30 April 2008 police raid on the Sunday Times offices, and a raid conducted earlier in the month in response to the published story about hospital computers. (1) Does the minister recognise Parliament’s authority to hold governments and public officials accountable for their actions? (2) If so, why is the minister impeding Parliament in its accountability role by refusing to table, as requested, copies of documents presented by the police in support of requests for the search warrants for each of the two raids? (3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(1) Does the minister recognise Parliament’s authority to hold governments and public officials accountable for their actions? (2) If so, why is the minister impeding Parliament in its accountability role by refusing to table, as requested, copies of documents presented by the police in support of requests for the search warrants for each of the two raids? (3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(2) If so, why is the minister impeding Parliament in its accountability role by refusing to table, as requested, copies of documents presented by the police in support of requests for the search warrants for each of the two raids? (3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(1) Does the minister recognise Parliament’s authority to hold governments and public officials accountable for their actions? (2) If so, why is the minister impeding Parliament in its accountability role by refusing to table, as requested, copies of documents presented by the police in support of requests for the search warrants for each of the two raids? (3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(2) If so, why is the minister impeding Parliament in its accountability role by refusing to table, as requested, copies of documents presented by the police in support of requests for the search warrants for each of the two raids? (3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(3) Who were the officers in charge of the two investigations leading to raids on the Sunday Times in April? (4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(4) Are police raids on media outlets considered routine, day-to-day operations? (5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(5) As the Commissioner of Police has stated publicly that he is kept informed of any high-profile or politically sensitive matters, will the minister ascertain from the commissioner and relay to Parliament an explanation of why he was not informed about either of the two police raids on the offices of the Sunday Times ? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has supplied the following answer — (1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(1) Yes. (2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(2) The minister does not have possession of operational police documents, and this remains an ongoing investigation. (3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(3) Detective Senior Constable Mansell is the investigating officer for the offices of the Sunday Times ; Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Trotter is the investigating officer for the investigation into the Royal Perth Hospital computers. (4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
(4)-(5) Although it is routine for police officers to execute lawfully obtained search warrants on media outlets, given that police execute many search warrants on a daily basis, the Commissioner of Police was not personally informed of the execution of the search warrants on the offices of the Sunday Times .
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